why cant tetanus cure bottulism and vice versa? they're complete opposites from the same genus...?

Question

tetanus makes u contract to death(blocks the relaxation pathway of muscles). and bottulism flaccid to death(stop production of acetylcoline which montracts muscles).

Answer 1

Both are similar for being "Clostridium" with quite opposite neuromuscular effects but on a completely different principle for the fact that the neurotransmitters involved are different.

What the tetanus does? The tetanus toxin blocks the release of the inhibitory neurotransmitters "glycine and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)". This diminished inhibition will then result to an increase in the resting firing rate of the motor neuron. That would explain the reason of having muscle rigidity.

Botulinum toxin blocks the release of "acetylcholine" from nerve endings thus arresting their function. To be more specific, a certain enzyme released by Botulinum toxin breaks down one of the fusion proteins that allow neurons to release acetylcholine at a neuromuscular junction. Such interference with nerve impulses causes paralysis of muscles.

Quite the opposite actions right.So your question of using the two against each other to counteract their effects won't work. By knowing their actions, tetanus toxins won't do a counteraction of botulinum toxins on atecylcholine release mechanism and botulinum toxins won't counteract the tetatus toxins effects on glycine and gamma-aminobutyric acid.

The presence of both toxins could bring more harm.

Answer 2

They operate on different principles. Botulism stops production of acetylcholine. This means that muscles can't contract.

Tetanus blocks glycine and GABA. This means muscles can't relax.

So what you get is muscles that can't do ANYTHING under neuronal control.

Answer 3

A hyper coagulability disorder can`t be cured by bleeding the patient through phlebotomy.